Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal was a member of the House of Representatives at the time, and was one of the bill’s sponsors.

“Without stable housing, students lose an estimated three to six months of academic progress each time they move to a new school,” Reykdal said. “The grants will provide crucial in-school support for those students.”

The bill established the Homeless Student Stability Program and authorizes two sets of annual grants, if funding is available:

From the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, to build homeless education program capacity at school districts; and

From the Department of Commerce, to support Homeless Housing Partnerships (HHP) between school districts and housing entities.

“Growing inside our thriving state economy is a homeless crisis that touches thousands of Washington families,” said Commerce Director Brian Bonlender. ”Schools are the heart of our neighborhoods and these grants are strengthening communities by providing stability for kids and their families who are struggling.”

The grants also will be used to fund caseworkers, or “homeless housing navigators,” in schools, as well as to provide essential needs, such as transportation to get students to school after they move, or assistance to avoid utilities being shut off in family homes.

OSPI

OSPI received 47 applications from across the state, requesting more than $3.9 million in total. State funding allowed for 12 awards totaling about $850,000. The funds will be used for a variety of programs, such as providing professional development for staff, partnerships with community-based organizations and tutors for homeless students.

Organizations receiving grants include:

Bellingham Consortia,$52,228

Bethel School District,$92,127

Evergreen School District (Clark),$83,943

Kelso Consortia,$111,452

Mount Adams School District,$65,422

North Thurston Public Schools,$98,654

Seattle Public Schools,$91,697

Selah School District,$4,000

South Whidbey School District,$64,000

Spokane School District,$55,000

Tacoma School District,$104,207

Taholah School District,$25,200

Department of Commerce

The department received 14 applications from school districts and their non-profit community service organizations across the state, with a total request of about $2 million. State funding allowed for nine awards totaling $875,000. The awards will help school districts identify homeless students and unaccompanied youth and rapidly connect them with housing services and agencies in their communities.

Districts awarded grants are:

Evergreen Public Schools,partnering with Council for the Homeless, $270,000

Bellingham Public Schools,partnering with Opportunity Council and Northwest Youth Services, $195,000